More than 113,000 Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) reports made to DCJ

The number of reports made about NSW children and teens suspected to be suffering abuse and neglect have reached their highest since the Covid pandemic began. Use our interactive map to see how your local area compares.

The number of reports made about NSW children and teens suspected to be suffering abuse and neglect have reached their highest since the Covid pandemic

The number of reports made about NSW children and teens suspected to be suffering abuse and neglect have reached their highest since the Covid pandemic began, with areas in the state’s south reporting the largest year-on-year increases.

The latest Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) data from Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) shows 113,426 reports were made by healthcare workers, teachers and social workers in the 2023-24 financial year.

A ROSH report is a mandatory notification made to the DCJ when a child or young person is at risk of significant harm.

There were 3463 more reports made than in the 2022-23 financial year.

The most recent figures are the highest recorded since the 2020-21 financial year, where 122,606 reports were made.

Local government areas including Shellharbour had an increase of 292 reports – the highest in the state – compared to the past financial year.

Wollongong recorded a further 247 reports, while Lake Macquarie, Blacktown and Clarence all had at least 200 extra reports compared to the previous financial year.

However, areas including the Mid-Coast experienced the largest decrease in the state of 114 reports less than the last financial year.

Orange, Bayside, Warrumbungle and Newcastle also had the most decreases in reports.

The figures come after The Sunday Telegraph revealed last month that vulnerable NSW children in state care were being neglected by government-contracted providers, gaining access to illicit drugs and running amok, according to whistleblowers.

Renée Carter, chief executive of Adopt Change, said it was “incredibly concerning” that ROSH reports had increased in recent years.

“While ROSH reporting exists to help keep children safe, these figures expose fundamental flaws in the system,” Ms Carter said.

“There remains an over reliance on crisis responses, and far more needs to be done to prioritise early intervention and wraparound support services to reduce harm and ensure children grow up in safe, stable and well-supported environments.

“The 32 per cent increase in re-entries into care signals that the decisions to return children home are not consistently working.

Child protection advocates say the reports are “incredibly concerning”.

“Another pressing issue is the strain on the workforce in the sector. With caseworker turnover and burnout, it is difficult to deliver the attention and continuity children need, especially when resources are spread so thin.”

Psychologist and director of ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies Professor Daryl Higgins said the child protection system was “extremely overwhelmed”.

“Even if there is an investigation after a report is made, there still isn’t a statutory intervention,” Prof Higgins said.

“These families need and deserve services. Children deserve to have their parents supported to be able to keep them safe and that’s where we’re failing.”

Opposition families and communities spokeswoman Natasha Maclaren-Jones said one of the key issues in NSW child protection system was a “lack of investment” by the state government.

“There needs to be more wraparound support provided to families to prevent them from needing to go into the child protection system,” Ms Maclaren-Jones said.

“We know that a lot of the social services sector is at capacity, which means families are unfortunately being turned away.”

A DCJ spokeswoman said: “ROSH reports are critical to DCJ’s work in preventing harm to children as they enable caseworkers to intervene early to support a family where a child is at risk.”

“It is important to note that a ROSH report indicates someone suspects a child is at risk of harm rather than demonstrating that a child has actually been harmed or is at risk,” she said.

Communities Minister Kate Washington said the Minns government was “undertaking major reforms of the child protection system to ensure children are safe and supported”.

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Originally published as More than 113,000 Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) reports made to DCJ